Stroke Center

When a blood vessel carrying oxygen and nutrients to the brain is blocked by a clot or bursts, a stroke occurs. At Valley Baptist Medical Center, our award-winning stroke treatment can lessen a stroke’s impact and help you recover faster.

Neurosurgery

Valley Baptist Medical Center is at the forefront of stroke treatment, but we also are able to perform the most delicate procedures and surgeries on the brain and deal with a wide variety of other vascular issues.

VBMCHarlingen

VBMCBrownsville

Brain and Spine Network

When it comes to stroke prevention, education and treatment, Valley Baptist is the Rio Grande Valley’s first choice. We are the only comprehensive neuroscience center in the Rio Grande Valley, where the Brain and Spine Network composed of trained professionals work to offer the most extensive stroke treatment services in the Valley. We are a certified Primary Stroke Center, which means that there is no one better suited to take care of you. Our award-winning, nationally recognized stroke specialists deliver advanced medical services for stroke that are the best in the region. If you think you are having a stroke, we’re the place to be.

Meet Our Physicians

Neurologists

Endovascular Neurologists

Neurosurgeons

Dr. Alejandro Betancourt

Dr. Jose Dones

Nursing Professionals

Erlinda Abantao, RN

Julio C. Olmeda, APRN, FNP-BC

Meet the Valley Baptist Medical Center-Harlingen Stroke Team

Primary Stroke Center

As a certified primary stroke center, Valley Baptist Medical Center-Harlingen and Valley Baptist Medical Center-Brownsville are the only is the only hospital in the region to offer a full range of stroke-care services. From our Level III trauma center, neurological ICU, and fellowship-trained physicians available 24/7, we get you better faster.

Neurosurgery

Valley Baptist Medical Center's highly trained neurosurgeons are able to perform the most complex surgeries, greatly reducing the effects of stroke or other vascular conditions, and getting you back to your life quickly and safely.

Endovascular Excellence

Our endovascular specialists can perform the most complex procedures here in the community, so there’s no reason for you to travel outside the Rio Grande Valley for the best, most advanced care available.

Advanced Research Center

Valley Baptist Medical Center is home to advanced research on stroke and other neurological conditions. Aided by the National Institutes of Health, our doctors are helping to create the cutting-edge treatments of tomorrow.

National Recognition

Valley Baptist has been recognized by the Joint Commission and has received the American Heart Association’s Gold Award for its stroke prevention and treatment services, which means we use all the latest stroke treatments and techniques for stroke care. If you or a loved one may be having a stroke, we are ready to help.

The American Stroke Association and American Heart Association have also once again awarded Valley Baptist Harlingen and Valley Baptist Brownsville “Gold Plus” awards for care of stroke patients in 2014. The national awards program, Get With The Guidelines, is designed to help ensure that the care hospitals provide for stroke patients is aligned with the latest scientific guidelines.

Valley Baptist Harlingen also received the “Target: Stroke Honor Roll” award from the American Heart Association for fast response in treating patients who come to the hospital with life-threatening symptoms for stroke. “Honor Roll” status is given to hospitals which consistently treat stroke patients with life-saving medications within an hour after the patient arrives at the hospital. When it comes to stroke, every minute counts, because “time lost is brain lost.”